“For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver.” Psalm 66:10 NIV
As the congregation praised God for His help and deliverance from a serious crisis, the worship leader reminded them of God’s purpose for allowing them to go through trials. God uses the crises of life to do two things – to prove or test us. Precious metals were subjected to the fire to test their strength. Likewise, God examines us to discern our strength, to see what we will do when put under intense pressure, to see what we are made of, so to speak. He refines or purifies us, as silver is refined in the fire. Just as precious metals are melted down to remove their impurities, God puts us through fiery trials to drive us to cry out to Him for mercy and forgiveness of sin. Trials force us to draw closer to God, and when we draw closer, we become more pure and holy, “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed (1 Peter 1:7 NIV). He purifies us through burdens and afflictions: Just as He did Israel when enslaved in Egypt. The psalmist again directed the congregation back to Israel’s experience in Egypt. God allowed them to be brought into the net or taken into bondage like an animal caught in a trap. “Laid affliction upon” means to put under intense pressure or to place a heavy burden on. While enslaved in Egypt, the burden of the Hebrews’ affliction was so great that they cried out to the Lord for relief (Exodus 1:11-14; 2:23; 3:7). In those hard places, let us cry out to the Lord.
PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord, as hard as it is, thank You for refining our faith in You.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, our faith is more precious than gold, the finest gold, and You are refining our faith is those hard places in our lives. May we never stop trusting You as You refine our faith. AMEN
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)
1 Samuel 16:1-13
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